2008

Lists various standard component description selections,
accessible by clicking Defaults on the Insert/Edit Compon-
ent and Panel Insert/Edit Component dialog boxes.
Description defaults
This file can be a family-specific ASCII text file with a .wdd
extension (for example, "PB.WDD" for family “PB” pushbut-
tons). If the family-specific file is not found, then it searches
for a file with the same path and name as the active project
with a .wdd extension (<project>.wdd). If neither a family-
specific or project-specific file is found, it defaults to
searching for a general description file WD_DESC.WDD in
the various AutoCAD Electrical search paths and AutoCAD
support paths (subdirectory search sequence “A” below).
If none are found, it prompts for browsing to a .wdd de-
scription file.
When you click Defaults on the Insert/Edit Component or
Panel Insert/Edit Component dialog box the contents of
the ASCII text file display in a dialog box where you can
select a line of text to use as the description text. The selec-
ted text, up to a “;” comment delimiter if any, then displays
in the description edit box on the Insert/Edit dialog box.
If the selected text has one or more “|” characters, it is in-
terpreted as having line breaks so the 2nd and 3rd descrip-
tion lines fill in as well.
Component tagging pick list data carried in an external
text file, accessed when you click External List on the In-
External component
sert/Edit dialog box for schematic or panel layouts. The
data in this file can be comma-delimited or space-delimited
and can be in any order. When accessed, the contents of
the file display in a dialog box so you can select a line of
data. It is broken down and displays in a dialog box for
mapping to various attributes carried by the schematic
component or panel footprint symbol being edited.
The elements in the selected line of file data can be mapped
to the edited schematic or footprint symbol's attributes
such as tag, description, location, and catalog part number.
This text file can have a .txt, .csv or .wdx extension. If you
do not browse to and select a specific file, AutoCAD Elec-
trical searches for a file with the same path and name as
the project’s .wdp file but with a .wdx extension. On sub-
sequent command invocations, AutoCAD Electrical defaults
to the previously selected file name.
Overview of project related files | 71